The U.S. Department of Defense is in hopes that groundbreaking Dell GD761 battery technology being developed here could help boost national security.
Earlier investment from the Navy helped the Cornell University spinoff company develop silicon semiconductor materials upon which to build the tiny Dell inspiron 1300 battery , and an additional $1.2 million from The Solar Energy Consortium will enable the small startup to double its staff and expand its facilities at the South Hill Business Campus.
Hinchey had visited the complex last year to make a similar announcement for $8 million in funding for solar energy innovators Primet Inc. and helped secure $17.5 million for Cornell's Energy Materials Center.
"This Dell inspiron 1420 battery technology has the potential to be revolutionary," Hinchey said. "It's the perfect example of how federal efforts can drive partnerships between nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and private-sector companies to spur innovation and economic development."
hey are particularly well-suited to low-power electrical applications where long life of the energy source is needed, such as implantable medical devices or military and space applications. Greene said early prototypes of the inspiron 1501 battery technology are being circulated and tested in several industries.
The hope is that other companies will find ways to incorporate the batteries into their electronic devices, which will eventually lead to mass production of the technology as commercial products.